Chapter 187: The “addition” And “subtraction” Method Of Problem-solving
Xuan Chong looked at this young man who recommended himself and thought: “Those who understand the times are talented individuals.”
After Su Ming’s honest and straightforward narration ended, Xuan Chong, based on his words and demeanor, already knew that this young man clearly couldn’t make such a big turn in his faction affiliation by himself; there must be an elder behind him pushing.
Xuan Chong had a good habit: when engaging in conversations involving power struggles, he first checked the address and social stratum.
Xuan Chong naturally knew that this family called Su Ming came from water. In the water and Zhu Prefecture areas, those factions had been stubbornly holding out for so many years, which gave Xuan Chong a headache.
Xuan Chong very much wanted to seize a model, let this model voluntarily pledge allegiance to him and establish the lord-vassal relationship.
Speaking of which, the Wu Family Army Northern Route faction over there in water was quite “awkward”; they didn’t really want to break away from Xuan Chong and go solo.
In chaotic times, if the local factions below didn’t come to pay respects at the dock, other troops might go to their hometowns to collect taxes one day. They called it levying for the Da Yao Kingdom’s national calamity, without even an IOU.
Now Da Yao was ablaze with war everywhere, and any place not ravaged by warfare was “wheat ready for harvest” fertile land.
The reason such “fields” hadn’t been harvested by others was that they had an owner.
Although the Wu Family Army Northern Route faction in the two Zhu areas was somewhat unwilling toward Xuan Chong’s leadership now; they still paid commercial taxes every year, and the army procurement system was still in place. If they really rebelled, they would be swallowed by the jackals, tigers, and leopards outside.
Currently, Xuan Chong treated the “Northern Route Army” factions that hadn’t surrendered to him as bones in his bowl.
Xuan Chong: Although I think this bone might get stuck in the throat, it’s a bone in my bowl, not something any tomcat or mongrel can come rummage for food in my bowl.
The crux of this problem now is: these people are clinging to the Northern Route Army’s merit book.
After Xuan Chong took charge, with the Southern Route Army’s merit book as the main one, some old merits they recorded with Wu Hengyu became dead accounts.
To avoid letting this account die off, these people kept chattering about “Wu Hengyu coming back” and so on, even though they knew it was impossible; no one would stop them if they really went north to join Wu Hengyu, but the Northern Route Army factions staying under Xuan Chong insisted on creating this topic.
Obviously, this topic could make Wu Xiao Que uncomfortable, so they hoped to force Wu Xiao Que to acknowledge it through “making noise.”
As for Xuan Chong! Stubborn mouth, holds grudges, the more they make noise, the less he gives.
Admittedly, there was a group in the Northern Route Army who merged into the Southern Route Army with their old merit books and almost no drop in positions; but those were Wu Family disciples allocated to Xuan Chong during Wu Hanluan’s time. Later in Bo Prefecture, when they coordinated with the Eastern Market Army, Xuan Chong exchanged them with Wu Hengyu using Eastern Market Army’s backbone on equal terms.
Wu Hong and other Northern Route Army Wu Family disciples’ merit books had been bound together with Xuan Chong’s several times. Now that they loyally followed Xuan Chong back from Bo Prefecture, Xuan Chong could naturally recognize all of Wu Hong and their merits.
The Southern Route Army’s elders had nothing to say. After all, Wu Hong and others were both clan relatives and had fought bitterly around “Wu Fei” for years, earning great merits.
As for this group’s merits in Zhu, they had nothing to do with “Wu Fei” at all, and the various Southern Route factions didn’t recognize them.
Similar to Li Shimin not becoming crown prince, many merits of the meritorious officials around him from the former Tang became dead accounts. Li Jiancheng didn’t have a merit book to arrange these world-conquering people, so the power system would inevitably have checks.
Family successions are like this. Each new big brother is the most capable faction leader from the previous cabinet, but only from his own faction.
If Xuan Chong’s personal combat merits before taking power were a bit weaker; or if Wu Hengyu had been more capable when leaving Lingnan back then, taking all the merits along the way with a more open mindset and promoting a large number of his subordinates?
After Xuan Chong succeeded now, this “throat-sticking” bone in his bowl became even bigger.
How to digest these “bones” after newly taking power? Li Shimin gave the standard answer through “heavily employing Wei Zheng”: give these hidden crown prince faction people a chance to earn merits and enter the Lingyan Pavilion. By promoting Wei Zheng, make those holding old merit books completely give up, and let the capable ones quickly settle into the new merit book to earn merits.
…All the “questions” Xuan Chong was thinking about, Zhao Cheng had them there, and even Zhao Cheng had more piled up…
The Su family young general here was waiting for Xuan Chong’s decision; in terms of age, Su Ming was only four years younger than Xuan Chong.
Xuan Chong said to this Su family young general with interest: “I’m glad you’re willing to guard the north gate in Yongzhou; but I’m not reassured about your long-term garrison plan.”
Su Ming gritted his teeth and continued to guarantee: “Military Master, for the northern garrison, I will do my utmost.”
Xuan Chong feigned concern: “It’s not that I don’t believe you can’t endure hardship, but I’m worried you won’t find any sweets in the north.”
Xuan Chong unfolded the map and instructed this young general: “Since you’re willing to go north, relative to those two families, you are one of our own.”
Xuan Chong had become much more seasoned these years, learning a bit of Liu Bang’s rapport-building tactics; Xuan Chong pulled Su Ming to stand within one step of himself, and Su Ming was subtly moved—he was hearing “one of our own” from Xuan Chong’s mouth for the first time; previously as a Zhu faction, he was clearly excluded. —Now suddenly becoming direct lineage, obviously his father’s choice for him was right.
Xuan Chong: “Do you know why I didn’t send others to garrison the north before?”
Su Ming: “Because General Cai and General Heng have long resided in the north and are proficient in local customs.”
Xuan Chong nodded: “Yes, proficient in local customs; so sending you, I’m a bit uneasy.”
After being provoked, Su Ming immediately said: “I can learn from General Cai and General Heng. (As a young man wanting to prove himself, Xuan Chong had him pinned down steadily)”
Xuan Chong countered: “You’re willing to learn, but are they willing to teach?”
Su Ming was stunned. Xuan Chong pointed out the horse paths of the trade routes on the map and said: “These are the foundation of their two families’ footing, and also the key to their proficiency in the local area; you want to learn, why should they teach you?”
Seeing Su Ming open his mouth, Xuan Chong gently guided: “But I can teach you.”
Su Ming immediately realized and knew whose thigh to hug.
Xuan Chong acted like a big brother, patted his new little brother’s shoulder, signaling him to be careful on one hand and not afraid on the other. He would keep an eye on his work and not let him capsize right away.
Xuan Chong gave Su Ming clear instructions: “For military strategist’s defense matters, communicate more with these two generals. You are one of our own, since you’re going there, you represent me. Generals Cai and Heng will naturally get close to you, but you must understand they will see you as eyes surveilling them. Thus, as eyes, you might be deliberately blinded.
If Hao Army attacks, you must have your own judgment; Cai and Heng’s families are held in my hands, they might not rebel, but if the situation turns severe and they decide to rebel, they will surely lure you into beheading.”
Su Ming’s heart skipped a beat; his father hadn’t told him about these risks.
Xuan Chong immediately comforted and guided: “Don’t fear, keep your wits about you; the probability of these things happening is extremely low. If you endure the tempering in these five years, you can stand on your own.”
Su Ming was grateful to tears after getting the pie in the sky.
Xuan Chong said: “Guarding the border in the north, besides focusing on military affairs, also pay attention to civil affairs. The north lacks tea; I’ll specially allocate a trade route for you to exclusively operate. You personally control the money and goods; if short on money, I’ll reimburse you. Remember, to win local hearts, don’t fear spending money, but don’t hand out money directly; spend money to get things done, make them revolve around you.”
After Su Ming left the General’s Mansion, he had transformed from a slightly resistant Zhu faction member into someone who received Xuan Chong’s gracious recognition.
Although not yet a die-hard loyalist, as long as Xuan Chong fulfilled promotions in each stage over these five years, he would become a die-hard sooner or later. This is what Zhuge Liang meant in the Outlining the Teacher: “Following the special favor of the late emperor.”
After Su Dahe heard his son’s retelling, he sighed: Our family line will not fall. —Then he cut off contact with other Zhu faction members, glad he switched early; the other Zhu faction members who couldn’t make the turn would eventually be played to death.
…Xuan Chong was solving the question with “addition”…
In the 4th year of Tian You Calendar, April, Xuan Chong allocated six hundred troops to Su Ming. This batch of troops was of extremely high quality, all equipped with full body armor. And there were two Guiche, four upgraded “Golden Bulls.”
The old Golden Bulls had internal fire basins merely to heat “golden juice,” powered by the inherent power of spirit wood. Now after the industrial revolution, the Golden Bull internals had been changed to piston engines, transmission structures to fine steel, comparable to train drive rods.
As for the chassis, Xuan Chong removed the spirit wood cow legs and changed to large tracks close to the ground in the middle, installing three sets of fine steel structures with rubber wheels as landing gear to maintain balance.
For weapons, Xuan Chong removed the flashy double horns, replacing with a single “horn.” This horn was a short thick cannon barrel.
As for golden juice, it had been replaced by combustion shotgun.
In the steam engine combustion chamber, a draft intake was reserved, drawing large amounts of flame into the cow throat area, high-temperature combustion gases heating iron balls caught in a tungsten filament net to one thousand degrees.
When the Golden Bull raises its head, the gate closes, sealing the connection between cow throat and combustion chamber, then opens the steam valve; steam flows in, exploding to shoot out these high-heat iron balls. Its lethality surpasses golden juice.
There were three reasons for such improvements!
1: Golden juice was too heavy. It affected Golden Bull acceleration, low weapon cost-performance ratio.
2: After city’s night soil could be transported to countryside, golden juice became scarce.
3: Xuan Chong as the newly appointed Military Master, intentionally or unintentionally showed differences from Wu Hanluan in certain aspects, to embody one emperor one court; past is past, now is now.
This upgraded armament was named “War Kui.”
Classic of Mountains and Seas states: Kui is shaped like a cow, blue body without horns; one foot, wherever it enters or exits water brings wind and rain, its light like sun and moon, its voice like thunder, named Kui. In records of Yellow Emperor defeating Chi You, Mysterious Lady made eighty Kui cow drums for the emperor, one beat shakes five hundred li, three beats three thousand eight hundred li!
War Kui is currently the highest grade ground war beast under the Wu Family Army system. It is on the same level as Da Yao’s iron lions and Hao State’s pottery figurine giant soldiers.
If Haotian jade lion is a three-cost unit, Golden Bull four-cost; then War Kui class is five-cost unit, representing the limit of the sturdiest materials and best mechanism designs found by mortal world empires now.
Currently on the territory Xuan Chong controlled, only Fen Xing City’s thousand-man iron forge could produce it.
After receiving such a corps, Su Ming’s mind buzzed. After the reporting non-commissioned officer prompted Su Ming to set off together, Su Ming reacted and used his own seal to take command.
During the march, Su Ming felt the “du du du” pressure release operation of the steam boilers behind and the shocking sensation of the huge rubber single wheels crushing and frictioning on the ground.
As a general, he should boost army morale. But when he turned to look at this iron-cast troop, he felt his shouts might not cover the steam engine’s roar.
During Su Ming’s first time leading troops in his life, “confusion” suddenly arose—I should do what?
Compared to Xuan Chong starting with mere laborer beginner troops, he had a “foolproof” operating system.
Thus, he used the “drill manual” system learned at the Officer Academy, operating by the book. Organizing coal burning along the way, logistics for camping, etc.
The most outstanding course Su Ming learned at the Officer Academy was logistics, related to his merchant family background. He was familiar with trade and cargo transport from childhood. He knew that mastering logistics and transportation, even if not heavily used in the military, with classmate connections in the Transportation Department, would benefit family commerce.
Xuan Chong giving such a troop to Su Ming was more like telling him “don’t worry about military tasks first, you are primarily a troop transport officer”; “for army matters, just do maintenance well. For specifics on fighting, refer to Generals Cai and Heng’s opinions. (Subtext: responsibility is on these two veterans)”
Of course, if merely a pure “troop transport officer,” Su Ming’s power would be unbelievably great. Almost a replica of Emperor Shu’s “Zhanlu Battalion” on the northern front back then. But Su Ming himself was diligent and exhaustive, unlike the Zhanlu Battalion commander back then who was arrogant with favor and destroyed unity with friendly forces on the frontline.
Xuan Chong placing him there was to utilize his “shrewd merchant” traits, giving him such a strong troop as backing to enhance his voice, carry out commercial work, and grasp the interests of various factions south of Yongshui.
After Su Ming arrived in Yongzhou, Xuan Chong immediately sent him a letter.
Xuan Chong: “Yongzhou’s current situation will surely have some wavering voices; your task is to strive for neutral factions economically as much as possible.”
Before Su Ming took the task, Xuan Chong had made it very clear to him: “Holding steady is the greatest merit; even if territory is lost, losing giant beasts like War Kui is fine; as long as Generals Cai and Heng can lead their local forces back to the Wo Niu Pass line, you (Su Ming) have no fault, I will still use you in the future. If Generals Cai and Heng rebel, even if you hold south of Yongshui territory, son, I will be very disappointed in you.”
…”Add” it up…
After Su Ming’s troops arrived at Yu City, Generals Cai and Heng, as garrison generals, both rushed over. Seeing the troop Su Ming brought, their hearts skipped.
After meeting these two generals, Su Ming immediately expressed “Wu Fei”‘s high trust in them; stated that the troop he brought was entirely at the two generals’ disposal. The two were naturally grateful to tears, of course they wouldn’t be so clueless as to directly split the brought war beasts and iron armor troops in two.
After pondering, Cai proposed that he guard Chang County, while General Heng and Su Ming provide support from Lu City.
This way they could maneuver for rescue. Speaking to this, General Cai looked at Su Ming, clearly wanting to know if this one was willing to take on such slightly risky tasks.
As a local faction, Cai thought: if Su Ming’s troop was willing to take some risky tasks and complete them successfully, then arrange to more important directions; if not, rest and be a mascot in the rear!
Emperor Shu’s Zhanlu Army back then was well-equipped, but the general unwilling to take responsibility. Better to rest in the back than occupy supply lines on the frontline.
As frontline garrison generals, they were happy to hear reinforcements from the rear, but dumbfounded seeing such a terrifyingly high-quality troop from the rear, unsure of Su Ming and Wu Yuanchang’s relationship, whether here for gilding or what.
…Relatively speaking, Zhao Cheng’s questions were solved with “subtraction”…
The Wu Family Army’s six hundred-man military mobilization had no impact on local livelihood south of Yongshui.
But north of the bank, there was bloodshed and tears; local officials frantically conscripted able-bodied men in villages; ten years ago there were still chickens and pigs, now even earthenware pots were knocked ringing.
Those two Hao Army generals, after “admonishment” from Zhao City, instead gained drive for self-proof.
These two Hao Army generals’ vigor in issuing orders in the camp was like rich second-generation returning home to start a business.
They still used traditional war mobilization north of Yongshui, driving the bureaucratic system to collect large amounts of food and grass locally, while the two routes of two thousand each transferred corps went to villages to scrape able-bodied men, then each expanded to twenty thousand—one local ten civilians following the transferred elite soldiers.
This conscription like labor corvee drew widespread resentment north of Yongshui. So much so that large numbers of households fled overnight to south of Yongshui.
Because these years, north bank people all knew that south bank had cooking smoke every day and even raised chickens, since even sparrows flew there.
Thus, before Hao State mobilized again, they all ran south.
Before the war, Xuan Chong assumed there were wavering factions south of Yongshui. But actually: there weren’t many actual “pro-north” actors south of Yongshui.
Xuan Chong’s governance was far better than the north no matter what. Following Hao State meant three days hungry nine meals. Under Lao Guanghou (Xuan Chong)’s rule, even conscripted labor had official food and lodging. And wages paid, often returning with a new set of clothes.
So north of Yongshui these years saw this: some wandering knights in villages pretended to be constables, conscripting laborers, and midway ran to south bank construction sites to “eat and drink for free.” So much so that Yongzhou local civil officials saw mismatched laborer numbers sent—why more? Questioning if lower local officials had squeezed dry the populace? Delaying farm work would be bad.
On the military sandbox, Wu Family Army through elders and folks fleeing from north already fully knew the date and location of northern military operation. This battle was basically one-way transparent.
The cross-era non-commissioned officer system was operating precisely. After five years, the third Yongshui War broke out.
